Apparatus for rapid collection of blood from liverstock

ABSTRACT

An apparatus useful for the rapid collection of blood from a subject (e.g., the vein of a bovine subject) and dispensing the blood therefrom into a collection device includes: (a) a capillary body having a capillary chamber formed therein, with the chamber having an inlet and outlet, and with said chamber configured to draw blood therein through the inlet by capillary action; (b) a hollow barrel connected to the chamber outlet; (c) a plunger positioned in the barrel; and (d) a hollow needle connected to the capillary body, with the hollow needle in fluid communication with the capillary chamber through the capillary inlet, so that blood can be rapidly drawn into the capillary chamber through the needle by the combined action of vein pressure (or other pressure, if present, such as arterial pressure) and capillary action.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/198,402, filed. Jul. 29, 2015, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns apparatus for rapidly collecting blood from a subject, particularly veterinary subjects such as cattle and other livestock, and rapidly dispensing that blood into a receptacle for further analysis.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The world cattle population is estimated to be about 1.3 billion head, with about 30% in Asia, 20% in South America, 15% Africa, 14% in North and South America and 10% in Europe. Cattle inventory in the United States as of January 2015 was estimated at 89.9 million head, living on upwards of 600,000 farms and ranches. Cumulatively, the beef industry has an economic impact of $44 billion.

Approximately 20% of any one feedlot's cattle will become sick with infection. It is difficult to identify which cattle are sick and preventative diagnostic measures are lacking. As a result, cattle considered to be at high risk will typically be treated with antibiotics. To illustrate how widespread this practice has become, a recent report found agriculture accounts for 80% of antibiotic sales. With public concern mounting against the overuse of antibiotics in livestock, ranchers and farmers are forced to choose between medicating healthy cattle or risk pathogenic exposure to their entire herd.

The cattle chute at the feedyard provides convenient access to individual animals, but the amount of time each animal is available for withdrawal of a blood sample while in the chute is short. Accordingly, development of methods and apparatus for rapid withdrawal of blood from cattle as they pass through the chute, which blood can then be used for individual detection of infection, allowing for treatment on an animal-by-animal (rather than whole-herd) basis, is urgently needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Initially, we attempted to develop apparatus and methods for withdrawal of blood from the animal's ear. These techniques were found to be too slow (albeit by a matter of tens of seconds), and insufficiently reliable. In addition, blood flow to the ear is reduced by chilling, making these procedures less reliable in cold weather.

We also proposed methods and apparatus for withdrawal of blood from the animal's snout. Initial testing seemed successful, but the possible risk of infection when the animal is subsequently feeding (with its snout often contacting food shared with other animals) made such techniques unacceptable to some feedlots.

After further efforts, we developed, and herein describe, an apparatus useful for the rapid collection of blood from a subject (e.g., the vein of a bovine subject) and dispensing the blood therefrom into a collection device. In general, the apparatus comprises:

(a) a capillary body having a capillary chamber formed therein, with the chamber having an inlet and outlet, and with said chamber configured to draw blood therein through the inlet by capillary action;

(b) a hollow barrel connected to the chamber outlet;

(c) a plunger positioned in the barrel, a squeezable bulb connected to the barrel, or other ejector device operatively associated with the barrel; and

(d) a hollow needle connected to the capillary body, with the hollow needle in fluid communication with the capillary chamber through the capillary inlet, so that blood can be rapidly drawn into the capillary chamber through the needle by the combined action of vein pressure (or other pressure, if present, such as arterial pressure) and capillary action. The needle is optionally removed and blood dispensed from the capillary body into a collection device by actuating the ejector (e.g., depressing the plunger).

The present invention is explained in greater detail in the specification below, which sets for non-limiting examples and embodiments. While the invention is explained primarily with reference to its primary purpose of collecting jugular vein blood from bovines such as cattle, it will be appreciated that the invention can be used on other human or animal subjects (particularly veterinary and livestock subjects such as rabbits, goats, sheep, horses, pigs, etc.) and can be used to collect blood from other locations (e.g., other veins such as the cephalic vein, saphenous vein, ear vein, milk vein (i.e., the subcutaneous abdominal vein), tail vein (i.e., the coccygeal vein), median cubital vein, etc., as well as blood from capillary beds and arteries).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is perspective view of an example capillary pipette and plunger sub-assembly for use in carrying out the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a capillary pipette, connector, and needle assembly of an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the combination of FIG. 2, with the separate components assembled together, and ready for use in collecting blood from the jugular vein of a cow.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the combination of FIG. 3, with the needle and connector hub removed, so that blood can be rapidly dispensed from the pipette and plunger subassembly into a blood sample receptacle for further analysis.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a one way valve, or check valve, positioned in a device of FIGS. 2-4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying figures, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description of the figures.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the present application and relevant art and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. The terminology used in the description of the invention herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. All publications, patent applications, patents and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Also as used herein, “and/or” refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items, as well as the lack of combinations when interpreted in the alternative (“or”).

FIGS. 1-4 show a non-limiting example of present invention. As noted above, the apparatus comprises, in overview, a capillary collection and dispensing subassembly 10, a connecting hub 30, and a hollow needle 40.

The capillary collection and dispensing subassembly generally includes a capillary body 11 having a capillary chamber 12 formed therein, the chamber having an inlet 13 and outlet 14, with the chamber configured to draw blood therein through the inlet by capillary action. A hollow barrel 21 is connected to the capillary chamber outlet, a hollow barrel connected to the chamber outlet. The barrel has a barrel chamber 22, and a plunger 25 is positioned in the barrel.

The hollow needle 40 is in some embodiments removably connected to the capillary body, with the hollow needle in fluid communication with the capillary chamber through the inlet 13, so that blood can be rapidly drawn into the capillary chamber through the needle 40 by the combined action of vein (or artery, or capillary bed) pressure (when present) and capillary action, the needle removed, and then blood dispensed into a collection device (not shown) through inlet 13 by depressing the plunger 25. In other embodiments, the hollow needle may be permanently affixed to (e.g., welded to, thermally bonded to, adhesively connected to, etc.) the capillary body.

Preferably, there is a vent opening 26 formed in either the barrel or the plunger (or bulb, when a bulb is used in place of a plunger), with the capillary chamber in fluid communication with the vent opening, to facilitate capillary flow into the capillary chamber. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the vent opening is formed in the plunger end portion, or similarly configured on a squeezable bulb, so that it can be covered and blocked by the user's thumb or other digit when the blood is ejected when the plunger is depressed or ejector is actuated.

Preferably, the barrel has at least one laterally projecting grasping projection 27 connected thereto, to facilitate handling by a human user attempting to draw a blood sample from a (sometimes large) animal.

Preferably, the plunger has a blunt end portion 28 configured for depression of the plunger into the barrel by the user, and wherein the vent opening is formed in the blunt end portion (e.g., to facilitate one-handed operation during dispensing, as discussed below).

The capillary chamber, the barrel, the plunger or ejector, and the needle may all be axially aligned with one another to facilitate handling, the other geometries may also be employed (e.g., angled geometries).

The apparatus illustrated further comprises a hub member 30, with both the hollow needle and the capillary body connected to the hub member, and with at least one of the hollow needle and the capillary body removably connected to the hub member. Numerous alternate configurations of the hub member can be implemented, as discussed further below. In the illustrated embodiment, both the capillary body and the hollow needle are removably connected to the hub member, the one with linear frictional engagement, and the other by twisting frictional engagement aided by the Luer lock fitting as discussed below.

Preferably at least a portion of the capillary body is transparent, and the apparatus includes a porous indicator element 15 (e.g., a cotton, synthetic fiber, or glass fiber filter) positioned in the capillary chamber outlet opening adjacent a transparent portion of the capillary body. During use, when the indicator element shows at least partial saturation with blood, the operator knows that the capillary chamber 12 has been sufficiently filled and may withdraw the device from the animal.

In some embodiments, the capillary chamber has a volume of from 10 microliters to 50, 100 or 200 microliters. In some specific embodiments, the capillary chamber has a volume of 20 microliters. In other embodiments, the capillary chamber has a volume of 50 or 100 microliters to 200, 500, or 1000 microliters, or more.

In some embodiments, particularly those suitable for larger animals, the hollow needle 40 has a length of from 10 or 15 millimeters to 30 or 40 millimeters (preferably 25 millimeters), and/or the hollow needle is between 14 or 16 gauge and 20 or 22 gauge (preferably 18 gauge). For smaller animals/subjects, the needle may have a length of from 5 or 10 millimeters to 10 or 20 millimeters, and/or may be between 8 or 10 gauge and 14 or 18 gauge. In some embodiments, the hollow needle 40 has at least one lateral vent (e.g., holes, slots, etc., not shown) formed therein and configured to facilitate rapid blood collection.

In the illustrated embodiment, the capillary body and the hollow needle are removably connected to one another through linear frictional engagement, optionally through the hub member 30. In other embodiments, the capillary body and the hollow needle are per affixed to one another.

Such a hub member 30 member may comprise at least one laterally projecting grasping member 31 connected thereto, preferably positioned in opposing relation to the grasping member 27 on the barrel, to facilitate rapid removal of the needle from the capillary body.

The capillary chamber may contain a reagent composition in liquid (generally aqueous, including gels) or dry form, such as anticoagulants, chelating agents, stains, dyes, etc.

In some embodiments, an anticoagulant or chelating agent (e.g., a salt of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) in dry powder form) is contained in the chamber 13 in a predetermined amount: That is, an amount appropriate for subsequent diagnostic testing, based on the volume of the capillary chamber, with larger amounts being included when the capillary chamber is large, and smaller amounts included when the capillary chamber is small. Specific amounts are known or readily determined by those skilled in the art based on the particular test being performed and testing apparatus being used. In those embodiments where the needle is not removable, an anticoagulant may be included inside the needle to treat blood which does not progress up into the capillary chamber where the bulk of the anticoagulant resides.

Any suitable anticoagulant or chelating agent may be used, preferably in dry or dry particulate form. In some embodiments of the invention, the one or more anti-coagulants may be abciximab (ReoPro), acenocoumarol, antithrombin III, argatroban, aspirin, bivalirudin (Angiomax), clopidogrel, dabigatran, dabigatran etexilate (Pradaxa/Pradax), desirudin (Revasc/Iprivask), dipyridamole, eptifibatide (Integrilin), fondaparinux, heparin, hirudin, idraparinux, lepirudin (Refludan), low molecular weight heparin, melagatran, phenindione, phenprocoumon, ticlopidine, tirofiban (Aggrastat), warfarin, ximelagatran, ximelagatran (Exanta/Exarta), or any combination thereof. See e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 9,085,615.

In particular embodiments of the invention, the one or more anti-coagulants may be chelators of di-valent cations selected from Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), Ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA), FURA-2, or a combination thereof, particularly dry particulate salts thereof.

In the example embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, a suitable barrel and capillary body subassembly, including plunger and indicator plug, is a MINIVETTE® POCT 20 microliter capillary blood collection device, containing a defined or predetermined amount of EDTA tripotassium salt, Reference number 17.2113.120, available from Sarstedt Aktiengesellschaft & Co. A suitable hollow needle is a BD PRECISIONGLIDE™ 18 G×1 (1.2 mm×25 mm) single use needle, Reference number 305195, available from Becton, Dickinson and Company. A suitable hub member is formed from an EXELINT® 1 milliliter Luer lock tip disposable syringe, reference number 26050, available from EXEL International, with the plunger discarded and the upper portion of the barrel cut off, leaving the lower portion of the barrel 32 to guide insertion of the capillary body 12 during assembly. Note that the foregoing includes a Luer lock fitting 31, which both cooperates in receiving the corresponding Luer lock fitting fitting 41 on the needle, and which conveniently forms the projecting/grasping element (in this case an annular grasping element) described above.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate numerous variations to the foregoing. For example, the hub member 31 can be a custom-molded part, rather than cut from a syringe body. One or more projecting members on the hub can be enlarged and shaped to be more readily grasped by a user, rather than fortuitously formed from the angled exterior intersection of the syringe barrel and the Luer lock tip thereon. The hub can be permanently connected to the hypodermic needle, or can be permanently affixed to or formed on, the capillary blood collection subassembly 10 (which can itself be a custom-made part, to facilitate connection to the hollow needle, and optionally the removable hub).

In addition, while the example embodiment of FIGS. 1-4 has two removable connections (the first a Luer lock connection of the needle to the hub via corresponding Luer lock fittings 31,41; the second the linear frictional connection of the 30 hub to the capillary blood collection device 10), when a single removable connection is employed it is preferably a linear frictional connection to facilitate rapid removal of the needle from the capillary collection subassembly (although, in a still further embodiment, projecting “wings” can be formed on the hub and/or capillary collection subassembly, to facilitate separation of the two by rapid twisting by the user).

FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of a device of the invention incorporating a one-way valve, or check valve. The purpose of the check valve is to inhibit the back-flow of collected blood from the device back into the animal, particularly when the device contains liquid or dry reagents in the capillary chamber for mixing with the collected blood. In the illustrated embodiment, the check valve comprises a valve body 51 inserted into the hollow plunger 25. The valve body may be formed of any suitable material, such as polymer injection molded or fabricated by additive manufacturing. The valve body includes a vent opening 52, and may include an O-ring seal 53 (or other suitable sealing features) to seal the valve body to the interior wall of the hollow plunger. The valve itself may be a flapper valve 54, as illustrated, formed from any suitable material, such as glove latex or a sheet of silicone rubber, which in the illustrated embodiment is affixed into the valve body 51 in a valve body retaining portion 55, which valve body retaining portion is configured to geometrically retain the flapper valve in the valve body without the need for adhesive or other fastener. Numerous alternatives for the position of the check valve are available, including above the vent opening 28, within the plunger 25, as shown, within barrel chamber 22 (so long as sufficient clearance for the plunger is provided), between barrel chamber 22 and capillary chamber 12, between capillary chamber 12 and hollow needle 40, etc. (though in some of these embodiments, the check valve would preferably be configured to overcome by relatively high plunger pressure to expel blood).

In preferred embodiments, the check valve is positioned on the “gas side” or “vent side” above, or upstream from, the barrel chamber (i.e., above the vent opening or within the plunger, or between the barrel and a squeezable bulb).

Methods of use. Devices as described above may be used to collect blood from a subject by:

(a) inserting the hollow needle of an apparatus as described above (see, e.g., FIG. 3) into the subject for a time sufficient for said capillary chamber to at least partially fill with said blood sample;

(b) withdrawing the needle from the subject;

(c) optionally separating the needle from the capillary chamber (see, e.g., FIG. 4); and then

(d) dispensing the blood sample from the capillary chamber into a collection device (e.g., from the capillary chamber, or through the needle when the needle is not separated from the chamber) by depressing said plunger, squeezing the bulb, or otherwise actuating the ejector.

In some embodiments, the subject is a bovine (including bulls, steers, cows, and calves), although the method may be applied to other subjects as noted above.

In some embodiments, the needle is inserted into a vein (e.g., the jugular vein) of the subject, although other locations may sometimes be used as well, particularly tissues rich in capillary beds.

In some embodiments, the procedure is carried out rapidly, for example, with steps (a) through (d) are being carried out in a time of one minute or less, or even thirty or twenty seconds or less (e.g., an average time of one minute, or thirty or twenty seconds, or less, when blood is collected sequentially from two or more subjects). When time is not a major concern, the procedure may be carried out more slowly.

Dispensing of the blood sample may be into any suitable collection device or receptacle for further analysis. Numerous alternatives are known in the art, with particular examples including, but not limited to, those described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,023,641, and in U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2014/0315242, 2014/0315283, and 2014/0186859, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

While the invention has been described above with a pull-type plunger, note that the plunger can be used as a push-pull type plunger, which would facilitate blood collection from certain sources such as a tail vein. For such a use, additional elements (e.g., rings, tabs, etc.) can be added to the plunger to facilitate pulling by the user.

In addition, while the invention has been described above with a rigid capillary portion, the capillary portion may alternatively be formed of a flexible material, for example, to facilitate ejection of the blood sample by squeezing the capillary portion.

The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention, and is not to be construed as limiting thereof. The invention is defined by the following claims, with equivalents of the claims to be included therein. 

1. An apparatus useful for the rapid collection of blood from the vein, artery or capillary bed of a subject and dispensing the blood therefrom into a collection device, the apparatus comprising: (a) a capillary body having a capillary chamber formed therein, said chamber having an inlet and outlet, with said chamber configured to draw blood therein through said inlet by capillary action; (b) a hollow barrel connected to said chamber outlet; (c) an ejector operatively associated with said barrel; (d) a hollow needle connected to said capillary body, with said hollow needle in fluid communication with said capillary chamber through said inlet, so that blood can be rapidly drawn into said capillary chamber through said needle by the combined action of vein pressure and capillary action, the needle optionally removed, and then blood dispensed into a collection device by actuating said ejector.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a vent opening formed in either said barrel or said ejector, with said capillary chamber in fluid communication with said vent opening.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said ejector comprises a plunger having a blunt end portion configured for depression of said plunger into said barrel, and wherein said vent opening is formed in said blunt end portion.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said barrel has at least one laterally projecting grasping projection connected thereto.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said capillary chamber, said barrel, said ejector, and said needle are all axially aligned with one another.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a hub member, with both said hollow needle and said capillary body connected to said hub member, and with at least one of said hollow needle and said capillary body removably connected to said hub member.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a chelating agent contained in said chamber in a predetermined amount.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said chelating agent is in dry powder form comprising a salt of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA).
 9. The apparatus of claims 1, further comprising a liquid or gel reagent composition in said chamber in a predetermined amount.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a one-way valve operatively associated with said capillary chamber and/or vent opening said one-way valve configured to prevent backflow of collected blood from the capillary chamber back into the animal.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said one-way valve is positioned on the gas vent side of said capillary chamber.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said capillary body is transparent, said capillary body further comprising a porous indicator element positioned in said capillary chamber outlet opening adjacent a transparent portion of said capillary body.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said capillary chamber has a volume of from 2 to 1,000 microliters.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said hollow needle has a length of from 5 to 40 millimeters.
 15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said hollow needle is between 14 to 25 gauge.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said hollow needle has at least one lateral vent opening formed therein and configured to facilitate rapid blood collection.
 17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said capillary body and said hollow needle are removably connected to one another through linear frictional engagement, optionally through said hub member.
 18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said hub member comprises at least one laterally projecting grasping member connected thereto.
 19. A method of collecting a blood sample from a subject from a blood collecting apparatus, the apparatus comprising (a) a capillary body having a capillary chamber formed therein, said chamber having an inlet and outlet, with said chamber configured to draw blood therein through said inlet by capillary action; (b) a hollow barrel connected to said chamber outlet; (c) an ejector operatively associated with said barrel; (d) a hollow needle connected to said capillary body, with said hollow needle in fluid communication with said capillary chamber through said inlet, so that blood can be rapidly drawn into said capillary chamber through said needle by the combined action of vein pressure and capillary action, the needle optionally removed, and then blood dispensed into a collection device by depressing said plunger, the method comprising: (a) inserting the hollow needle of the apparatus of into said subject for a time sufficient for said capillary chamber to at least partially fill with said blood sample; (b) withdrawing said needle from the subject; (c) optionally separating said needle from said capillary chamber; and then (d) dispensing said blood sample from said chamber into a collection device by actuating said ejector.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein said subject is a bovine.
 21. The method of claim 19, wherein said needle is inserted into a vein of the subject.
 22. The method of claim 19, wherein steps (a) through (d) are carried out in a time of one minute or less. 